Touring Bicycle butterfly handlebars

we'll come straight out with it – they appear like Micky Mouse ears. I don't believe I'll previously become accustomed to the uncomfortable looks, particularly combined with the style of a hand-made Geoff Scott Clamont touring frame. But after the panniers tend to be packed, they begin to look at home. The Better Business Bureau Multibar handlebar is created specifically for bicycle trekking, and at the termination of the day, I need a handlebar that will perform the job.

I utilized the Better Business Bureau Multibar on my recent ride – 11, 300km up through centre of Australian Continent after which down the whole Great Dividing number – by which I needed great control and comfort on all types of road areas, predominantly sealed, a great deal of gravel plus in some areas, rough rocky surfaces and sand.

Handlebar options

You can find three common handlebar kinds used for cycle touring. The most common may be the traditional fall bar, that provides a number of hand positions additionally the power to get down low. 2nd may be the flat club, which is great for off-road control but limited available position options (although this are improved by adding bar stops). And third will be the Multibar, also called the butterfly club or trekking bar. A fourth choice, which can be becoming very popular with bikepackers, is Salsa's Wood Chipper, a shallow drop bar with drops that angle outward, supplying not merely an ergonomic hand position, but also a wider hold for off road overall performance; quite cool.

The reason why did we select Multibar?

The key thing I was looking in a handlebar for touring ended up being convenience, and for me personally that designed plenty of hand positions. In addition needed something which ended up being compatible with hydraulic disk braking system levers. The introduction of drop-bar levers which can be appropriate for hydraulics is just a new thing and it is naturally centered on the trail racing marketplace, therefore we're speaking 11-speed and digital shifting. I became operating a 10-speed XT because of this ride, therefore drop bars and Wood Chippers had been unthinkable.

However, without having falls was not a poor thing – the Multibar allows for a far more upright operating position, just like a flat bar, meaning enhanced comfort over many hours.
I wasn't keen to get a set club when I as soon as destroyed the experience in 2 of my hands for six weeks because handlebar palsy from hill bicycle touring for four months with a set bar – this is mostly due to not having enough hand roles. So a Multibar it had been.

The set-up

I mounted my Multibar on a 110mm stem. That's 30mm longer than the thing I could have utilized in a drop club fit. The reason why we picked a lengthier stem is the fact that level part of the Multibar – the part where you're able to install the brake system – curves back toward the driver, to arrive closer that just what an appartment bar or fall bar would. So that the longer stem was to stay away from sitting also upright like on a town bike. But, it absolutely was nonetheless a bit more upright than i love.
I angled the Multibar a few degrees upwards to help make the reach to the side and front parts comfortable.

To include even more convenience, I covered it in double bar tape, which thought very nice and easy in the fingers. BBB tends to make a foam grip that fits the Multibar, but i'ven't made use of this to guage whether i prefer it or not.